Of Dark Times and Guidance
"Mother! Father!" These words echoed down a crumbling hallway as two fillies run trying to escape the destruction around them. the two sisters were Celestia, a young alicorn with a white crimson coat and dusty pink hair flowing as they ran, and Luna, a filly alicorn with a dark blue coat and star-white hair. They rush through the hallway looking for their parents. They will know what to do. "Daughters." This reply echo towards them as they rushes to the source. Bothe Celestia and Luna entered the Royal Throne Room to see both of their parents fighting off the incoming dragons. The dragons. The invasion came out of nowhere. No sign. No warning. No time to prepare.
The father looked at his two daughters. The wear and tear of this invasion was starting to show. "Father, what should we do?" "Listen my daughters and listen closely." He blasts a dragon back and sets his eyes on another approaching as his wife does the same. "You must escape from here. This place is falling down." Celestia and Luna looked shocked at this request, especially one from their father. Celestia replied, “We can’t leave." The brashness in her voice. She did not want to leave. Luna was there, by her side. They didn't want to leave their parent. Not at a time like this. Just then, the mother made her reply. "Dears, you must listen to your father. Do as he says." Her voice, soothing, calmed both fillies down. "Please, listen to reason." Luna replied, "We can't leave you here. Come with us." There was little hope in the father's voice as he replied. "We...we can't. The other ponies need us to be there to help them escape. Both you and your sister need to take the underground tunnels. They will take you outside of the kingdom and you will be safe." "But dad," Celestia replied. "Father," Luna said. "No buts. You two are strong. Take care of each other. Celestia, you watch over your younger sister. And Luna, take care of her. We both love you dearly. Now go." "But," "NOW!" His voice thundered. As he said this, the castle began to shake and tremble. The dragons were attacking on all sides now. Pieces of the ceiling began to fall down break apart on the floor below. Celestia grabbed Luna and bolted towards the underground passage. Luna would call back to her parent. This would be the last time the sisters would see them. As they made it to the side corridor, the entrance to the throne room was blocked off by falling rubble and fire. The smell of burning crimson and obsidian began to fill the hallway. The dragons were right behind them. Celestia had to run faster if her and Luna were to make it out alive. What little magic Luna knew, she would use to fire at the invaders, but to no affect except angering them more. They were almost at the entrance to the underground when one dragon shot a fireball at the sisters Luna began to worry as this ball of heat got closer to them. Celestia used her magic to open the passage doors and jumped through, closing the doors behind them.
They made it to the underground passage. It came at a close call too. Both Luna and Celestia had singe marks over their bodies from the fireball but at lease the got out with their lives. They now had to traverse the underground tunnel to the outskirts of the kingdom. The only light they had to guide them was the light they could conjure up. It was several hours later when they came upon a simple door. Celestia used her magic again to open the door. It was stuck. There was something on the other side preventing them from opening it. It sounded like debris of some sorts. "Luna, I need your help opening this door." "Okay big sis," Luna replied as she added her magic to Celestia's and they were able to force the door open. Ash and soot burst through the entrance, having the sister cough. They made their way through the door and see what has happened. As they looked towards the city, they saw was a wasteland of their home. A once grand and beautiful city was now in rubble and fire as smoke filled the air around it. Both of the sisters sat there, speechless at what they were looking at. Tears fell down their sooty faces as the continued to look. All of their friends, the citizens, mother, father, gone. Never to be seen again. They were alone. Even though they had each other, they felt as if no one else was there for them.
Suddenly, there was a voice behind them. "Hey there." They turned around and laid eyes on a group that was behind them. There they stood, five creatures. One was wearing all armor, had a phoenix look in the design, and had what looked like a fire on the top of his head, it looked like a couple of feathers were up there too, and a pet Phoenix riding his back. All you could see were his eyes that were rose red. Next to him stood an earth pony but he was wearing a coat with a lot of weird and strange devices attached to it and goggles on his face. Behind the one wearing armor stood a majestic creature that neither Celestia nor Luna has ever seen before. He was tall and green. His coat was made up of small branches that seemed attached to his body with light blue leaf petals at the end. His mane consisted of white lily petals that flowed in the wind. His two horns, or what they thought was a horn, had a multitude of tips and butterflies would circle around and land on. The next one was a giant buffalo. They could sense some kind of wisdom radiating from him. He wore traditional buffalo clothing, his beard was in multiple braids, and he had a container that he was carrying on his side. The lid was in the shape of a bird’s head and the eyes glowed dark green. The last one scared the sisters the most. It was just a skeleton standing there. It wore a hood and was emitting a purplish-black mist. Celestia was shocked and curious at this sight while Luna was cautious around these new visitors. Just them, the earth pony began to talk. "Whoops. Didn't meat to startle ya there." "Who...who are you?" Celestia asked, her curiosity getting to her. The earth pony replied, "How silly of me. Proper introductions are in order. You can call me Gizmo." The one in armor spoke next. "My name is Firebrand. And this is my pet phoenix, Philomenia." The phoenix on his back gave out a loud cry. The green one stood forward. As he did, Celestia and Luna noticed that plants and flowers began to grow where he stood. "I am Life Bringer." The buffalo spoke in a deep, yet calm, voice that startled the fillies. "I am known by Spirit Walker." The last one to speak was the walking skeleton. His bones would begin to shakes as he spoke. "Death." "Wh...what are you doing here?" Celestia said, Luna still cautious. Gizmo spoke, "We are here to help you two. We are...your guides so to speak." "Guides? Guides for what?" Luna asked, slowly dropping her guard. "You two are the only hope this land has You two alone will bring back peace." Firebrand spoke, his voice powerful and strong. "How...how can we do that? Look at our home. It's gone. We barely escaped a dragon and got slightly burnt. We're not strong enough to do what you expect of us." Celestia replies back. "Not yet, young ones, but in the passing years, you will gain the strengths and the power needed," said Spirit Walker. “Ye…Years? That will take too long.” Celestia seemed to have all hope drained from here. Luna added on to what Celestia said, “You all seem powerful. Can’t you stop what’s going on here?” Celestia said while pointing her hoof at their devastated home and the few dragons flying around it. “Alas, a higher power prevents us from interfering.” Firebrand spoke, overlooking the destruction. “What higher power prevents you?” “Destiny.” His bones creaked and shook with each word spoken. "Your destiny to be exact. You two are important for the future for not only your home, but for all lands. You two will unite every creature that calls this place home. The restoration of harmony lies in the balance.” “How do you even know you have the right ponies in the first place? This seems like a lot.” “You two are Celestia and Luna if I’m not mistaken.” Gizmo said with a little chuckle. “Why yes…but…” Celestia said, unknowing of what to say next. “Well, now that we have that situated, we should get go now. We don’t have all day.” Firebrand stated as he started to walk, the others following. “Wait,” Celestia said, pushing Luna until they were walking with the group, “Where are we going?” Why, to start your training of course. This just didn’t seem like the best spot to do it in, you know, with all the destruction and stuff,” Gizmo said.
They walked until the sun began to dip over the horizon when they cam upon a clearing next to a river. “This spot will be perfect.” Firebrand proclaimed. “Gizmo, if you will.” He said. “Oh, I love doing this.” Gizmo said as he rustled his hoof around his jacket until he pulled out a small black box. “You may want to look away.” Gizmo said as he threw the box in the air. Everyone looked away as a bright light filled the sky. It faded away and what they saw was a prepared campsite with a campfire and four tents all set and ready. Gizmo began to instruct the sisters. “Your tent is the far left one. Hope you don’t mind sharing not that it should be a problem. Let me just show you around it though.” He started to walk towards the tent with Celestia and Luna following. As the sisters walk through the entrance, they looked all around in amazement. It was as if they had walked into a house. It was about that size, yet, they knew that they walked into a tent. “Gizmo, how…how is this even possible?” Celestia asked, still amazed at what she is seeing. “This has been something I’ve been working on for a long time. It’s a trick a…doctor taught me a long time ago.” Gizmo replied, with a smirk on his face. “There is no doctor we know of that is able to do this.” Luna replied. “Well…He’s no ordinary doctor. There was a slight pause. “Your beds are through that door. If you need anything, I’m the next tent over. Good night.” Gizmo said. He then walked out of the tent. “We should probably head to bed,” Celestia said, looking at Luna. Sleep was beginning to take her over. They walk over, opened the door, and saw two beds with a window letting the soft glow of the moon. They hopped in and prepared for sleep. “Big sis?” Luna whispered. “Yes Luna?” Celestia whispered back. “Did today really happen? Did we loose…” “Sadly, yes. But we still have each other.” I know big sis. I just…miss them.” “I do too…but we got to be strong. You heard what they said. About our destiny.” “I know…well, good night big sis.” “Good night Luna.” A moment of silence passed. “Sis, I…I can’t sleep. Can you sing me the lullaby? You know, the one mother would sing to us?” “Of course.” Outside, Gizmo sat next to the fire and looked up at the sky. All of the stars filled the sky and twinkled at him. A smile came on his face and he said, “Allons-y, old friend.” and walked towards his tent. All was peaceful that night, but the challenge begins in the morning.
